Howard Ratner’s gambling addiction and adultery have destroyed his once successful gems-dealing career and family life. He believes that one last big deal involving rare Ethiopian uncut gems will deliver him from thuggish debtors and his troubles in general. But Ratner is running out of time to push the sale through.
Adam Sandler is perhaps best known for rather goofy low-brow comedies. Uncut Gems is not where you expect to find the star of Happy Gilmore (1996) and Pixels (2015). However, Sandler is an absolute revelation as the under-pressure New York dealer and why he was not at least nominated for an Academy Award, is a mystery. His loud, frantic and rather pathetic character drives the whole story and creates one of the most tense films in recent years. The actor manages to gain our sympathy for Ratner despite him possessing some truly loathsome traits. This is full throttle stress. The film itself, is an “uncut gem”; rough (be prepared for wall-to-wall swearing, threat and one rather shocking piece of violence) but it absolutely sparkles as a piece of drama.
If your nerves can stand it, also try Good Time (2017), also directed by the Safdie brothers and starring Benny Safdie alongside Robert Pattinson.
Certificate: 15
2 hours 15 min
Netflix
Directors: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie
Cast: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel
